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Simple Summary: Small-scale egg farmers in China face challenges related to a shortage of protein feed and environmental pollution caused by excessive nitrogen in manure. To address these problems, a sustainable feeding solution known as low-protein diets (LPDs) has been proposed. However, many farmers are unaware of this option, and some believe that more protein in feed is always better for egg production. This study aimed to understand farmers' awareness and attitudes toward LPDs and to evaluate its environmental and economic benefits. By surveying farmers in Quzhou County, the study found that most had never heard of LPDs, and that those who did typically did not use it. The study also used methods such as life-cycle assessment and cost analysis to show that adopting LPDs can reduce nitrogen pollution and lower feed costs. The findings suggest that more education and support are needed to encourage the use of LPDs, which could lead to more sustainable farming practices and better environmental outcomes. This research provides important insights into how science can help improve agricultural practices and support environmental protection. China, the world's largest egg producer, faces challenges of protein feed shortages and nitrogen pollution from manure. Low-protein diets (LPDs) offer potential solutions, but their adoption by small-scale farmers is uncertain. This study used surveys, meta-analysis, life-cycle assessment, and life-cost analysis to address these gaps. A field survey in Quzhou County (a typical representative of small- and medium-scale farmers in China's egg farming industry) found that 84% of egg farmers were unfamiliar with LPDs and believed higher protein levels were better. On average, pre-laying and late-laying diets exceeded national LPD recommendations by 0.3% and 0.5% crude protein (CP), respectively. The main barriers to LPD adoption were perceived low quality, lack of veterinary recommendations, and limited technical support. A meta-analysis of 30 studies (published before July 2024) showed that reducing CP by less than 1% did not compromise productivity. Local LPD demonstrations and training improved farmer confidence. Results indicated a 10% reduction in the nitrogen footprint and a 115% increase in earnings for LPD-demonstration farmers. The study suggests a coupled pathway integrating research and technology diffusion, highlighting the need for collaboration among scientists, feed companies, and technical experts to overcome misconceptions and promote LPD adoption. This integrated framework offers valuable insights for sustainable agricultural development in China and other resource-limited countries. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Developing nations like Bangladesh are particularly vulnerable to poultry diseases, notably Highly Pathogenic Avian Influenza. Adopting biosecurity approaches that assist farms in disease control and prevention can decrease the industry-wide dissemination of infectious diseases. In light of these factors, this study was carried out to investigate the implementation of biosecurity practices on layer farms in Bangladesh. Using a stratified random sample method, a total of 315 layer farms from fourteen upazilas (sub-districts) in seven districts were surveyed using a semi-structured interview schedule. The study explored layer farmers' experiences with biosecurity procedures adopted on farms that included equipment, employees, and visitors. The study found that the overall biosecurity score was 72.5 out of 100. It was concluded that internal biosecurity was better than external biosecurity. The study also revealed that layer farms have a larger proportion of partial adopters based on the adoption index. The application of the Tobit model identifies that education, farming experience, attitude towards risk, price of layer sheds, return from layer production, and access to biosecurity knowledge had a substantial influence on adopting biosecurity measures. The findings might be helpful for farmers and policymakers to ensure the required modifications to improve compliance with biosecurity protocols and could assist relevant authorities in implementing particular biosecurity initiatives. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The excessive use of pesticides has been identified as a main barrier to sustainable agriculture in the developing countries, that can lead to several negative consequences, posing a significant threat to the total environment. Therefore, the present study investigated the informedness of smallholder vegetable farmers on responsible use of pesticides, exploring how their knowledge, attitudes and protective practices (KAP) are associated with the safe use of pesticides. A questionnaire survey was conducted with 206 smallholder farmers in the central highlands of Sri Lanka to identify how KAP are associated with responsible use of pesticides. Secondly, two focus group discussion were conducted to gain insights into the farmers' awareness of the responsible use of pesticides. The analysis reveals an overall deficiency in informedness about responsible pesticide use, primarily stemming from moderate level of knowledge and perceptions related to protective practices. Furthermore, farmers tend to face constraints due to limited access to information on responsible use of pesticides and a heavy reliance on pesticides, believing pesticides to be a primary means of increasing crops. Results also indicate a significant association between knowledge, practice, and informedness, whereas attitudes did not significantly contribute to informedness. Significant disparities in informedness were identified among different demographic groups, with men and younger farmers exhibiting higher levels of awareness. Thus, we suggest that farmers' informedness can be improved by targeted efforts to enhance their knowledge and correct misconceptions on the use of pesticides. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Objective: The study aims to analyze the interconnectedness of farmers' socioeconomic factors and their awareness of the One Health framework. Method: This study conducted a survey with 1,166 observations across Thailand, Lao, and Vietnam and employed binary logit regression for data analysis. Odds ratios were used for interpreting the results. Results: The results indicated that certain socioeconomic factors—particularly household income, age, gender roles within the household, and household size—significantly influenced farmers' awareness and engagement with One Health literacy. Awareness levels varied across the three countries: for example, the composition of adults in Thai farming households was correlated with awareness of environmental health and infectious diseases. In Lao PDR, gender was significantly associated with awareness of animal health, while in Vietnam, it was linked to awareness of animal disease transmission. Conclusion: These determinants contribute to the application of a more integrated One Health approach among farmers in these areas. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Small farmers in low-and-middle-income countries are disproportionately affected by uncertainties under which they have to make decisions. However, decision-making may not be purely rational as it could be influenced by affective or emotional states. Compared to integral mood, there are few studies investigating whether incidental mood influences farmers' monetary decisions under uncertainty. This paper applies the Cumulative prospect theory (CPT) model to determine farmers' attitudes under uncertainty and examines the association with farmers mood, measured by direct elicitation during an experimental session. Participants (farmers) were mostly uncertainty averse in the gain domain. In contrast, farmers were uncertainty-seeking for losses. A one-way ANOVA was conducted to examine the differences between groups in sad, neutral and happy mood states, followed by posthoc tests to determine which groups differed from each other. The results revealed statistically significant differences in uncertainty aversion, loss aversion, and the parameters representing how probabilities are perceived and weighted, i.e., sad, neutral and happy in the gain domain. However, there was an absence of a relationship between incidental mood and several CPT parameters in the loss domain. The paper highlights how understanding the association between mood and attitudes can be harnessed for a better quality of decision-making in various contexts. This finding has important implications for agricultural contexts where farmers often face uncertain outcomes and must make choices that involve potential gains and losses. Since the transfer of incidental moods to decision making is usually done unconsciously, it is crucial to eliminate or reduce the impact of negative moods on decision-making, especially where the outcome is likely to be suboptimal. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sheep breeding is one of the most important economic activities in Ahar City, Iran. However, due to traditional production techniques, livestock farmers face the problem of low productivity. To address this issue, traditional breeds can be replaced with improved and high-yielding ones; in the first stage, this requires the acceptance of these new sheep breeds by the region's ranchers. This research aimed to evaluate the attitudes of the livestock breeders of Ahar City towards the improved breeds of sheep and the influential factors. We collected data through in-person interviews using a simple random sampling method, surveying 100 sheep breeders in Ahar. The breeders were categorized into three groups based on their attitudes towards improved breeds: negative, indifferent, and positive. Next, we employed data mining-based methods, including multilayer perceptron neural networks, random forest, and random tree algorithms. These helped identify essential variables affecting ranchers' attitudes. The results showed that several factors contribute to the ranchers' philosophy, with the number of sheep sold in the past year and the total sheep ownership being the most significant ones. Comparing statistical evaluation criteria, we found that the random tree algorithm outperformed other methods in predicting and classifying livestock farmers, achieving a prediction accuracy rate of 86% for a sample of 100 farmers. Based on our findings, promoting training courses and raising awareness about the benefits of breeding new sheep breeds, along with providing facilities and credits based on economic conditions, can foster a positive attitude among herders. Increasing the number of sheep owned and improving marketing strategies can further enhance this positive outlook. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study was to analyse the impact of government policy on the development of organic agriculture in Azerbaijan and to assess the effectiveness of support programmes for organic farmers. The methodology included an analysis of legislative documents, government support programmes for farmers, and reports of state and international organizations. The study found that organic agriculture in Azerbaijan is actively supported through legislative initiatives, such as the Law of the Republic of Azerbaijan No. 650-IIIQ "On Ecologically Clean Agriculture", adopted in 2008, and government support programmes. The law prohibits the use of genetically probmodified organisms and chemicals, and sets standards for the certification of organic products. As of 2020, the area of certified organic land was 40,779 hectares, indicating significant potential for the sector. The Azerbaijan 2020: Looking to the Future programme provides financial support to farmers by providing subsidies for fertilizers, seeds and other inputs that contribute to the development of organic production. In 2021-2022, AZN 61.8 million was paid to support agriculture. The study also identified significant challenges, including high certification costs, limited access to modern technologies and low demand for organic products in the domestic market, where only 15% of organic goods are sold. According to forecasts, with increased government support, the area of organic land could reach 500,000 hectares by 2030, which would help increase exports and improve the competitiveness of organic products in international markets. Further development also requires improving infrastructure and creating new sales channels for organic products. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The article discusses the potential of artificial intelligence (AI) for monitoring poultry welfare on farms, addressing public and socio-ethical concerns. While AI offers automated monitoring capabilities, barriers to implementation include technological limitations, financial implications, and consumer perspectives. Collaboration among stakeholders is crucial for transferring AI technology from laboratories to the poultry industry for on-farm application, with the aim of improving animal welfare and addressing industry challenges. [Extracted from the article]

Land use and land cover change determined by numerous situation specific factors at different locations and times. In Ethiopia inappropriate land uses land cover changes become pressing challenges. Similarly, in the Gurage zone, there is a significant change from agriculture to Eucalyptus plantations. Therefore, this study investigates the direct and indirect drivers of the change, as well as factors affecting farmers' decisions regarding the conversion to provide important policy input. The data collected from 311 households through household surveys, key informant interviews (KIIs), and focused group discussions (FGDs). Descriptive statistics and a binary logit model used for analysis. The result indicated that the direct driver for this land conversion included the ability to generate high income from forest, soil infertility, and increasing demand for forest products. On the other hand, the allelopathic effect of neighboring plantations, lack of adequate agricultural technology and increased accessibility to forest products market were the top indirect drivers. The binary logit results show that farmers' decision to convert agricultural lands to forestland is significantly influenced by land size, forest income, education level, and years lived in the area. The findings suggest creating awareness about appropriate land use techniques to sustain the development. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Severe irregularities and implementation challenges in Mvomero District, Tanzania, marred the implementation of the Fertiliser Indicative Pricing Approach (FIPA). However, the questions on the levels of farmers' knowledge, attitudes and practices, knowledge categories that farmers have the least knowledge of, reasons informing attitudes and dominant ineffective FIPA practices are yet to be adequately addressed. This study assessed farmers' awareness, attitudes, and practices; knowledge categories that farmers have the least knowledge; reasons for informing attitudes; and dominant ineffective FIPA practices. Interview schedules and in-depth interviews were conducted during data collection. Qualitative data was analysed using content analysis. Farmers' attitude was gauged using a five-point Likert scale, and farmers' knowledge, knowledge categories farmers had the least knowledge, reasons informing attitudes and dominant ineffective FIPA practices were described using descriptive statistics. Results revealed that most respondents had low levels of knowledge, unfavourable attitudes and ineffective practices towards FIPA. Also, knowledge categories that farmers had the least knowledge of comprised fertiliser indicative prices, FIPA rules and regulations, and key FIPA actors. Results further indicate that high fertiliser prices, weak FIPA monitoring and low-quality fertiliser were the reasons for unfavourable attitudes. In addition, non-adherence to indicative prices, rules and regulations, and the presence of lowquality fertiliser were the dominant ineffective practices of FIPA. The study generally indicates that farmers' low awareness concerning FIPA is a major threat to FIPA implementation. The findings imply that a lack of farmers' awareness of FIPA contributes to irregularities and underperformance manifested in individualistic opportunistic behaviours. Rogue actors abuse farmers' ignorance of program key result areas by maximising their utility at the expense of the majority of farmers. Concerted efforts should be directed at training and awareness building, effective monitoring and contract enforcement on indicative price and quality standards. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines farmers' perceptions of drone technology in agriculture, highlighting its growing importance in modern farming. Despite the potential benefits of drones, there remains a research gap in understanding how factors like expectations, product quality, and perceived value influence adoption. This research seeks to fill that gap through a survey of 410 farmers in Thailand who have prior drone usage experience. The methodology employed a quantitative approach using structured questionnaires, with data analyzed through Structural Equation Modeling (SEM). The results indicate that expectations, mediated by perceived product quality and value, significantly influence farmers' attitudes toward drone technology. Product quality—particularly in terms of precision, durability, and ease of use—emerged as a key factor in shaping trust and adoption. Economic, social, and personal perceptions were also found to drive perceived value. The study concludes that aligning drone features with farmer expectations can increase perceived value, facilitating wider adoption. Policymakers and service providers are encouraged to focus on enhancing product functionality and offering targeted educational programs to build confidence among farmers. This research contributes to a deeper understanding of the socioeconomic factors influencing agricultural innovation and offers practical recommendations for promoting sustainable technological adoption in the sector. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The scarcity of water resources in South Africa remains a considerable challenge for water users. This study evaluated the impact of climate variability on the adaptive water-use behaviour of sugarcane producers by identifying the factors influencing their adaptation decisions. A survey, the Theory of Planned Behaviour (TPB), and structural equation modelling (SEM) were used to achieve this objective. The study involved 54 sugarcane producers from the Impala Irrigation Scheme, selected through random sampling. Socio-economic profiles revealed a largely male, older demographic with varied education levels and farm characteristics. Results indicated that attitude (β = 0.349, p < 0.1) and subjective norms (β = 0.281, p < 0.05) significantly influenced farmers' intentions to adapt, while perceived behavioural control had no significant effect (β = 0.051, p > 0.1). These findings suggest that improving farmers' attitudes and strengthening social support systems can enhance their intentions to adopt adaptive strategies. However, the model's explanatory power (R² = 0.276) suggests that other unexamined factors may also influence farmers' adaptive intentions, highlighting the need for further research. Overall, our findings suggest that interventions targeting attitudes, social support, and resource access can improve adaptive behaviours. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Biodiversity is a valuable resource that supports sustainability within agricultural systems, yet in contradiction to this agriculture is recognised as a contributor to biodiversity loss. Agricultural advisory services are institutions that support sustainable agricultural development, employing a variety of approaches including farmer discussion groups in doing so. This study evaluates the impact of a farmland biodiversity management (FBM) communication strategy piloted within Irish farmer discussion groups. A sensemaking lens was applied in this objective to gain an understanding of how this strategy could create an actionable space for FBM promotion amongst farmers. The strategy was piloted with six Irish dairy farmer discussion groups, after which focus groups were conducted with members of these groups. Additionally, baseline and endline surveys were completed by the members to determine their knowledge, attitude and on-farm practices relating to FBM. Analysis of the focus group data identified that the communication strategy supported the affordance of sensemaking with respect to FBM. Analysis of the data from the baseline and endline surveys relating to knowledge, attitudes and practices found that engaging with the communication strategy promoted farmers to improve their attitude in relation to FBM. Results from this study provide important lessons for agricultural advisory services to support farmers in incorporating FBM into the overall management of their farms and, in turn, to promote the improvement of farmland biodiversity and contribute to a sustainable future. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this chapter, the controversy as to whether agroforestry systems are a sustainable choice for coffee farming is explored. This led us to look through the social, economic, and environmental lens to navigate the huge body of work conducted by the coffee research community concerning agroforestry. A literature review was conducted to examine farmers' attitudes and preferences together with ecosystem services provisions, coffee yield and quality reaped from agroforestry practices. Questions relating to labour and input costs of these systems are addressed using novel data sources across different geographies (i.e., Vietnam and Nicaragua) and different intercrops (e.g., avocado, bananas, durian, and pepper). Above and belowground interactions within the coffee agroforestry system were highlighted from an ecosystem services perspective. Ugandan and Vietnamese case studies were used to demonstrate the value of conversion to agroforestry under certain environmental challenges (i.e., high slope areas and water limitations). Finally, the possibility of carbon storage and biodiversity conservation payments for coffee farmers was briefly explored. This chapter provides a palatable assortment of arguments, evidence and insights surrounding the feasibility and sustainability of agroforestry in coffee production. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Understanding interactions and a balance between iron (Fe) and manganese (Mn) as fertilizers is crucial for optimizing tuberose growth. Here, a field experiment considered the effects of various Fe and Mn concentrations on quantitative features, qualitative traits, microelement absorption, and microelement distribution in tuberose plants. The treatments included Fe concentrations of 0, 15, 30, and 45 kg ha-1 along with Mn concentrations of 0, 10, and 20 kg ha-1 from FeSO4 and MnSO4 sources, respectively. According to the results, high Fe concentrations (30 and 45 kg ha-1) negatively affected the uptake of Mn, Zn, and Cu in aerial parts and bulbs. However, an apt combination of Mn and Fe significantly improved several traits. In the first year, Fe (30 kg ha-1) and Mn (20 kg ha-1) significantly increased spike length (27.19%), floret length (46.22%), bulb count (43.60%), vase life (96.08%), and the percentage of opened florets (26.65%). In the second year, Fe (30 kg ha-1) and Mn (20 kg ha-1) resulted in even more improvements, including flower stalk count (78.48%), floret length (47.44%), vase life (32.02%), percentage of opened florets (41.31%), fresh (41.73%) and dry (54.40%) weights of the aerial parts, and bulb fresh (48.98%) and dry (61.54%) weights. The findings highlighted that the combined application of FeSO4 (30 kg ha-1) and MnSO4 (20 kg ha-1) had significantly positive effects on tuberose growth and relevant parameters. Tuberose development improved significantly in response to this combination treatment over the two years, which provides a valuable guideline for farmers and researchers when aiming to enhance tuberose yield. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to accelerate the transformation of agricultural development mode, promote ecological restoration and governance, and promote agricultural sustainable development, China has vigorously promoted the cultivation mode of rotation. As a region with significant natural environmental constraints, the cold black soil region has strict requirements for crop growth period, and it is relatively difficult to carry out crop rotation activities in this natural environment. This study used the theory of planned behavior (TPB) and a structural equation model (SEM) to perform an empirical study on 742 farmers' rotation intention in Luobei County, China, to investigate the factors that influence farmers' rotation intention in the cold black soil region. According to the different planting area mechanism, farmers were divided into agricultural area, forest area and reclamation area, and the planting area mechanism was included in the study as a regulating variable. The findings demonstrated that farmers' intention to rotate their crops were significantly positively impacted by their attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control. There were notable beneficial effects on crop rotation intention due to the subjective norms and perceived behavior control in the three domains of agriculture, forestry, and reclamation. Farmers' attitude in the agricultural and reclamation regions have a significant positive impact on their intention to rotate, whereas their attitude in the forest regions have no significant impact. This study also shows that there is a significant positive correlation in all three regions between farmers' attitude, subjective norms, and perceived behavior control, indicating that the TPB is a good tool to use when examining farmers' intention to rotate. The findings of this study will be crucial in helping the government advance crop rotation technology and encourage the sustainable use of arable land. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

One of the important innovations in sericulture is utilizing the hybrid silkworm eggs, which, with a clearer view about it, may assist extensional experts in the development of sericulture. This study aimed to explore the agriculturists' knowledge of and attitude on the silkworm eggs distributed in Guilan Province. This is a quantitative, applied and descriptive-survey research. Due to the expansion of sericulture in Guilan Province, Langaroud and Shaft cities, which had the highest number of sericulturists, were chosen to do the multistage sampling. Then, through simple random sampling, 168 cases from Langaroud and 184 cases from Shaft were selected. Researcher-made questionnaires were filled in five categories (individual-professional characteristics, knowledge, and attitude, satisfaction, and factors contributing to satisfaction). Face and content validity was confirmed through consultations with 10 professors as well as with sericulture specialists and reliability was confirmed using Cronbach's Alpha. Studies showed no significant difference in seri culturists' knowledge and performance with regard to different types of distributed eggs. This indicated that seri culturists' location had no impact on their attitude on the usage of the distributed eggs. However, the type of silkworm egg used affected the farmers' attitude, resulting in a statistically significant difference. The majority of sericulturists were moderately satisfied with sericulture practices in Guilan Province. Furthermore, individual characteristics as well as access to facilities and financial and moral support most significantly affected their satisfaction. Despite the unique features of each egg type, sericulturists' similar attitude of hybrid types indicated their poor and limited knowledge of raising the eggs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigates the sociocultural constructs of secular time and labor as perceived by Christian farmers in rural Tigray, Ethiopia. The central objective is to uncover the factors that influence these farmers' heritage value orientations and attitudes towards secular time and labor. A combination of structured and unstructured interviews, focus group discussions, and observational methods were employed to collect data. The data were systematically analyzed through both qualitative and quantitative lenses. The findings indicate that Christian farmers in the study area hold a modest esteem for labor and the judicious use of time for secular ends. Furthermore, it is evident that their secular outlook is deeply intertwined with their broader heritage life philosophy. These farmers prioritize "the afterlife" over the present, leading to a diminished existential significance of the "here and now" within their socio-economic framework of time. The research identifies several key factors contributing to the knowledge gap among Christian farmers: the dominant authority of the church, the lack of a robust secular authority, insufficient dissemination of accurate information about the physical world and human capabilities, and a limited understanding of the constraints imposed by ancient heritage myths. Consequently, it is evident that the prevailing sociocultural constructs of time adversely affect the economic productivity and overall livelihoods of the Christian farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In Dr. Keebet Benda-Beckmann's scholarship that has transformed the field of legal pluralism, she highlights the importance of understanding how colonization impacted systems of power. This article extends Benda-Beckmann's forum shopping framework to analyze colonial Tanganyika's thwarted attempts to establish law and order, particularly when it came to cattle. Laws criminalizing stock theft were among the first imposed in British East Africa, and disputes rose to the surface of four decades of annual police and prison reports, in anxious correspondence between police commissioners and European settler farmers, in reports from the governor to London, and in meetings of farmers' associations. In line with other case studies of legal pluralism, stock theft in this context of indirect rule shows how law-making and law-enforcing were not solely the domain of the state and police, but largely shaped by settler famers—and indigenous resistance to their theft of land and resources. Stock theft and attempts to stop it constituted state power and expanded the capitalist state and policing strategies, many of which traveled to other parts of the British Empire and outlived formal colonial rule. The colonial police gained their power not despite their failure to stop stock theft but because of it. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Food security continues to be a global concern and its importance has recently increased for many reasons. Composite food security indices have been widely used to calculate and monitor food security, but farm-level studies are limited. Therefore, the main objective of this study is to construct a Farm-level Food Security Index (FFSI) for dairy farms to assess their contribution to food security, identify potential areas for improvement and guide policy makers. Data were collected from 126 farms in the Thrace Region of Turkey through face-to-face interviews. The FFSI was constructed with four dimensions, briefly called economic, quality, social and natural resources, containing twenty-three variables. Principal component analysis was used for the determination of variable weights, data envelopment analysis for calculating technical efficiency, and the Tobit model for examining the factors influencing FFSI scores. To assess the robustness of the FFSI, Monte Carlo simulations-based uncertainty and sensitivity analysis, dimension extraction approach and Shapley effects sensitivity analysis were performed. With an average score of 56.8, the key result of the FFSI is that dairy farms are using almost half of their potential to fully contribute to food security. Moreover, according to the Tobit model, FFSI scores are significantly affected by the farmer's age and education level, credit use, livestock unit, fodder crop area and milk marketing channel. The FFSI is robust to weights and sensitive to normalisation, and the social sustainability dimension can cause the largest shift in index scores. Based on these findings, numerous agricultural policy proposals have been developed in this study by identifying the priority areas that need to be addressed to guarantee food security. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The development and optimization of more sustainable pest control methods, primarily focusing on preventive strategies and non-chemical tools, is a global priority for scientists and agrochemical companies. This study examines Sicilian farmers' willingness to adopt organic pest management practices for protecting tomatoes and zucchini from two key insect pests, namely Tuta absoluta and Bemisia tabaci. We implemented the Theory of Planned Behavior as a cognitive model to explore individual motivations that influence farmers' readiness to adopt sustainable pest control practices. Results from partial least squares structural equation modeling on a sample of 85 farmers emphasize the importance of farmers' behavioral constructs in the decision-making process: Farmers' attitudes are the strongest predictors of intention (ß = 0.454; p < 0.01), followed by social norms (ß = 0.201; p < 0.1) and perceived behavioral control (ß = 0.184; p < 0.01). Intention and perceived behavioral control constructs positively and significantly affect the stated behavior construct (respectively, ß = 0.23; ß = 0.24). Traditional farm/farmer socio-economic characteristics have a notable, yet smaller, influence: Farmers' education positively predicts their willingness to adopt (ß = 0.292; p < 0.01), while farmers' age is negatively correlated (ß = −0.130; p < 0.01). Informational campaigns on the importance of organic pest management on improving soil health and biodiversity should be promoted to strengthen farmers attitudes toward organic pest management. Similarly, policy-makers should enhance farmers perceived behavioral control by providing better information about characteristics and procedures of organic pest management protocols. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Foot and mouth disease (FMD), which affects cattle and other animals with cloven hooves, is one of the greatest economic threats to agriculture and other businesses. This study sought to understand farmers' understanding and attitude toward FMD. The Bone district, South Sulawesi province was chosen as the site where the research is being done. Purposively, a sample of 41 breeders was selected. Data were collected using observation, questionnaire-assisted interviews, and focus group discussions (FGD). Both open-ended and closed-ended questions were asked. Identity, clinical symptom knowledge, knowledge of the FMD vaccination program, the impact to cattle market price and sources of information on the FMD vaccination program are the topics covered in the questions. The data was handled using the SPSS software version 23, the data was quantitatively and descriptively evaluated using averages, frequencies and percentages. The study's findings indicated that farmers' awareness of the clinical symptoms of FMD was in the high category (78.05%), farmers also had good knowledge of the usage of vaccination (95.12%). All farmers desired to immunize their cattle against FMD (100.00%). Cattle prices have fallen due to the FMD outbreak (92.68%), this shows that the percentage of farmers' knowledge of the impact of FMD on the price of cattle was good, because the price of cattle decreased. Buying and selling livestock can spread the FMD virus (80.49%), this shows that the percentage of farmers' knowledge of the impact of FMD on the spread of FMD virus was good. The local regional government and its employees, including extension agents, veterinarians, and technical officers, were the main sources of information regarding the vaccination program. It is advised that beef breeders receive assistance to prevent additional disease outbreaks. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Within the context of agricultural green development, the construction of high-standard farmland plays a crucial role in enhancing agricultural productivity, ensuring food security, and achieving sustainable development. However, as the direct participants, farmers' willingness and enthusiasm to engage in high-standard farmland construction largely determines the success of these initiatives. Therefore, based on data from 326 samples in Qinghai Province, this study employs a structural equation model to analyze the impact of farmers' cognition and the current condition of farmland on the willingness to participate in high-standard farmland construction and verify the mediating effect of information trust. The results indicate the following: (1) the impact pathways of farmers' cognition on participation willingness vary across different dimensions, with subjective norms and behavioral attitudes having a direct positive influence, while perceived behavioral control shows no direct effect; (2) the current condition of farmland has a direct and significant negative effect on participation willingness; (3) information trust exhibits varying mediating effects across different pathways, showing a partial mediating effect on behavioral attitudes and subjective norms, a full mediating effect on perceived behavioral control, and a suppressive effect on farmland condition. This study, grounded in the context of China's green agricultural development goals, provides new insights into the relationship between government policy implementation and farmers' willingness to participate. It establishes a scientific foundation for policymakers to formulate strategic green development policies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Farmers' livelihoods are critical for global sustainable development and the conservation and transmission of rural heritage. However, neglecting farmers' livelihoods increases the risks to living heritage conservation. Therefore, it is essential to explore the impact of livelihood capital on farmers' landscape services cognition and their behavioral intentions. Based on the Sustainable Livelihoods Approach, this study examines the rural areas of Mulanbei irrigation district, which was recognized as a World Heritage Irrigation Structure in 2014, and uses a structural equation model to investigate the relationships between farmers' livelihood capital, landscape services cognition and behavioral intentions. The study's key findings include the following: (1) The levels of human capital (0.541), social capital (0.671), and cultural capital (0.645) are relatively high, while the levels of natural, physical, and financial capital are comparatively low. (2) There are significant differences in landscape service cognition and behavioral intentions among farmers of different livelihood strategies, with diversified livelihood farmers demonstrating the highest levels of both cognition and intentions, while subsidy-dependent farmers show the lowest levels. (3) Natural, cultural and financial capital play a crucial role in influencing farmers' landscape services cognition and their behavioral intentions. Landscape service cognition mediates the relationship between livelihood capital and behavioral intentions. (4) To increase farmers' willingness to protect and promote rural heritage, efforts should focus on enhancing natural, physical, and financial capital while fostering cultural capital to promote advocacy. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study investigated the health status and factors influencing healthcare choices among leafy vegetables (waterleaf and fluted pumpkin) farmers in Calabar Agricultural Zone, Cross River State Nigeria. Specifically, this study sought to: assess the health status of the leafy vegetable farmers in the study area by identifying the common illnesses they suffer and days of being off-farm as a result of ill health; identify the choices of healthcare used by the farmers and determine socio-economic factors influencing their choices. A multi-stage sampling technique was used in selecting 240 leafy vegetable farmers from the study area. Primary data were collected using a set of structured questionnaires and analyzed using descriptive statistics such as tables, means, frequencies, percentages, minimum, maximum, and standard deviation; and inferential statistics such as multinomial logit regression. Results from the study show that malaria, typhoid, diarrhea, stomach upset, farm injuries, skin rashes, respiratory disease, and body pain/fatigue were the prevalent illnesses in the study area. The majority of the farmers (37.5%) preferred Primary Healthcare Centres (PHCs). Household size, waiting time, and distance had a significant influence on the choice of PHCs over other alternatives. The study recommends an increase in the use of insecticide-treated mosquitoe nets by farmers in the study area. The study also called for adequate training and staffing of PHCs to reduce the waiting time and better serve the people. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Infections with Fasciola hepatica and Ostertagia ostertagi impinge upon dairy cow health and welfare and represent a major economic factor in livestock industry. Control measures largely rely on the use of anthelminthic drugs. However, reports of anthelmintic resistance necessitate sustainable approaches. Farmer characteristics such as attitude and personality are crucial for the implementation of control strategies and on-farm practices. Methods: In the present study, the HEXACO (Honesty-Humility, Emotionality, eXtraversion, Agreeableness, Conscientiousness, Openness to experience) model of personality structure, which conceptualizes human personality, was used to evaluate the relationship of farmer aspects with on-farm bulk tank milk seropositivity for F. hepatica and O. ostertagi. Moreover, information on farm structure, housing, management, and farmers' attitude was collected in a face-to-face interview. Farm-level seropositivity for F. hepatica and O. ostertagi was predicted via elastic net regression. Results: Out of 193 farms housing 8,774 cows in the German Federal State of Bavaria, 47 farms (24.4%) were seropositive for F. hepatica, 77 farms (39.9%) for O. ostertagi, and 42 farms (21.8%) for both endoparasites. The model for F. hepatica seropositivity selected the covariates pasture access, O. ostertagi seropositivity, higher farmer conscientiousness, and organic farming as relevant predictors. Seropositivity for O. ostertagi was predicted by F. hepatica seropositivity, pasture access, organic farming, and farmers being neutral regarding their satisfaction with animal health on their farm. Higher values for the HEXACO factors extraversion and emotionality were inversely associated with O. ostertagi seropositivity. Discussion: The present work emphasizes the importance of farmer traits in regard to animal health and parasite occurrence. For the effective acceptance and implementation of sustainable control strategies for livestock helminth infections, it is crucial to consider these aspects to holistically address the challenges of managing parasitic diseases. Moreover, tailored communication strategies can be developed incorporating the understanding of individual stockman characteristics and subsequently ensuring encouragement of stakeholders. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Weather-based index insurance is a financial instrument which allows smallholder farmers to protect themselves against climate shocks such as droughts and floods. In many cases, insurance indices are based on one or more earth observation datasets (e.g., rainfall, soil moisture, vegetative health) which are partly covering periods of more than 40 years. While remote sensing products and their associated data have improved over this time, understanding the historical climate variability and trends remains an essential piece in ensuring the development of indexes that best represent farmers' risks. From a practical perspective, shortening time series to limit the risk of understudied climate variability, such as the Atlantic Multidecadal Variability, sometimes seems to be a quick solution. However, shorter time series jeopardize the overall robustness of the index. Therefore, understanding the links between climate variability, index design, and implications for farmers is key. Weather-based index insurance products in Sahelian West Africa usually face a challenge in robustly quantify underlying climatic decadal variation in seasonal rainfall. Methods: This study analyzes the influence of decadal shifts in rainfall patterns in Sahelian West Africa, in particular Senegal, on index insurance calibration and design, concluding with practical recommendations for the next generation of drought risk finance instruments in the region. Results: Our findings indicate that decadal variability has not led to a clear decrease in payouts in recent years compared to earlier years, despite an overall increase in seasonal rainfall. Rather, we find that interannual variability has increased which may be a more critical factor for assessing farmers' agricultural risk than the increase in total rainfall. Discussion: Focusing on key moments of the cropping calendar in the design of an index shows that an increase in the total average rainfall per season does not result in fewer payouts. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study examines the relationship between the attitude of cattle farmers toward their animals and the occurrence of behavioral and health problems in cattle. Various factors, including animal behavior, husbandry conditions and the frequency of diseases, are taken into account. The results of an online survey of 1,242 German cattle farmers indicated that a range of factors, including the husbandry system, the number of cattle, grazing practices and the human-animal relationship, can influence the occurrence of abnormal behavior in cattle, such as tongue play, mutual sucking, horse-like sitting and standing up as well as diseases, especially musculoskeletal disorders. Additionally, the study identified two distinct types of basic attitudes among livestock farmers toward cattle: emotional and utilitarian attitudes. A robust foundation between the attitude of the livestock owner and the husbandry conditions can therefore facilitate the welfare of cattle in terms of freedom from pain, disease and psychological suffering, as well as the expression of normal behavior. This, in turn, can reduce the occurrence of abnormal behavior. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Urban farming is important in supporting food security in urban areas. This study aims to identify the use of communication media in implementing urban farming and supporting institutions in the application of urban farming. This research was conducted using a survey method with samples selected in tiers representing each extension institution of farmer women groups. Furthermore, data were gathered from interviews and FGDs. The results showed that accessing information and communication behavior was in the excellent category with a score of 4.65. There are different types of facilities that are currently used by farmers to access information, namely smartphones where the extension workers always provide information related to farming, and printed extension media such as brochures, flyers, and books related to vegetable farming. Farmer knowledge about information sources is also in an excellent category. They know the types of information sources and how to get information according to their needs that comes from reliable and accurate sources. Farmers received full support from local leaders and the government through the food crops and fisheries office of the city of Pekanbaru with regular counseling held by extension workers, and socialization related to urban farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Manure utilization in China is below optimum due to the inconsistency between farmers' behavior and their intention to apply manure to their crops. With increasing constraints on the availability of chemical fertilizer and their impact on the environment, understanding how farmers' perceptions affect their intention and behavior toward manure application is an issue for the implementation of sustainable agricultural development. This study uses primary survey data from 653 farmers. A probit model was used to assess the influence of cognition on farmers' intentions, behavior, and the inconsistency between them in the use of manure application. Heterogeneity analysis was conducted to identify differences between farmers with different education levels and operation scales. The results showed that enhancing subjective norms, perceived behavioral control, and behavioral attitudes could increase their intention and behavior. Furthermore, improving the perceived behavioral control and behavioral attitudes of farmers would reduce the inconsistency between behavior and intention. In addition, some differences were identified in the role of farmers' cognition with different education levels and operation scales. In general, it is necessary to enhance farmers' comprehensive cognition of the value of manure through publicity and popularization of technology, reduce farmers' perceptions about difficulties in applying manure through new policies and subsidies, and stimulate farmers' enthusiasm to participate in the practice. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Sugarcane is vital to Belize's economy, significantly contributing to its Gross Domestic Product and supporting a large portion of the population. It is necessary to address the declining soil health in this nation due to excessive chemical fertilizer use, and Belize aims to promote organic fertilizers, which enhance soil quality and reduce environmental impacts. The primary purpose of this study was to investigate the determinants of adoption intentions regarding organic fertilizers among Belizean sugarcane farmers using the Extended Theory of Reasoned Action. Data were collected from 207 farmers in the Orange Walk and Corozal districts using a non-probability sampling approach via a self-administered questionnaire measuring perceived health risks, environmental concerns, attitudes, subjective norms, and adoption intentions. The results revealed that both perceived health risks and environmental concerns influenced farmers' attitudes and subjective norms, which, in turn, affected their adoption intentions, as revealed through path analysis; socio-economic factors, years of farming experience, and ownership background partially affected adoption intentions regarding organic fertilizers, as determined via binary logistic regression analysis. The findings suggest that raising farmers' awareness of health risks and environmental crises, as well as enhancing farmers' knowledge and their positive attitudes towards the use of organic fertilizers, will contribute to the sustainable development of the sugarcane industry in Belize. Some interventions by policymakers are recommended to support the transition to the use of organic fertilizers in sugarcane farming. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The growth of farmer-managed tree seedlings (FMTS) is pramount to impact agroforestry technology adoption. This paper presents the performances of FMTS of 3 avocado varieties (Hass, Ettinger and Fuerte) and one papaya variety (Solo) in three districts (Dugda, Adamitulu, and Lome). Thirty-six trials were established (12 trials per district) in 36 homsteads selected purposively. Each homestead was considered as a block in RCBD. Watering frequency was found higher in Dugda than the remaining districts. Seedling survival exhibited significant differences (α<0.05) among varieties with in and across districts. Survival of Solo papaya was significantly higher (α<0.05) at Dugda (91%) than in Adamitulu and Lome. Hass avocado reveled significantlly higher survival (91%) at Dugda than Ettinger and Fuerte across districs. Significant differences in Plot Volume Index (PVI, an integrative growth measurement) among varieties within and across districts indicated that seedling growth was influenced by variety, planting site and, watering fequency. PVI of Hass at Dugda was significantly higher (by 35% and 110%) than that of Ettinger and Fuerte, respectively. PVI of Solo Papaya at Dugda was significantly higher (α<0.05). Hass was found promising avocado variety for planting locations considered, and frequent watering was found crucial for good growth of the tested plant varieties. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

This study aimed to investigate smallholder farmers' perceptions of the integration of avocado cultivars into farmlands and the influencing factors in Upper Gana and Jewe Kebele, Central Ethiopia. Household surveys and key informant interviews were conducted. Household survey data were obtained from a purposive sample of 164 avocado growers using a semi-structured questionnaire. Key informant interviews were conducted using a snowball approach. Descriptive statistics and regression analyses were used for data analysis. The results showed that Hass, Ettinger, and Nabal were the avocado cultivars preferred by respondents. Home gardens and fruit orchards were the most preferred niches for avocado cultivation. About 64% of the respondents confirmed the positive effects of avocado farm integration, while 65% expressed concerns about possible adverse effects with annual crops. Limited access to grafted seedlings and low technical expertise in the propagation of avocado cultivars were hinder avocado integration. Regression analysis revealed that land tenure, tree management practices, availability of family labor, low access to grafted seedlings, and farmers' concerns about potential resource competition between avocados and annual crops had a significant influnce on farmers' decisions on avocado on farm integration. Thus, understanding farmers' attitudes is crucial for promoting the adoption of avocado on farm integration. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In this paper, we address a gap in the literature concerning pollination management, the pollinator deficit, and conservation objectives. By employing a farm level survey of UK farmers, we examine farmers' attitudes, understanding and management of pollinators. Based on descriptive statistics and regression analysis, we found significant variation in interest and understanding of the impact of pollinators on commercial crops meaning that many respondents did not consider they had a pollinator deficit in terms of crop quality, quantity, or financial impacts. At the same time, many farmers are willing to adopt environmentally beneficial land-use measures if suitable advice and financial incentives are offered. However, there is little evidence of coordination of actions between farms to support wild pollinators. These findings indicate a potential disconnect between a farmer's understanding of the impact on agricultural output from a pollinator deficit and the agricultural benefits from the adoption of specific environmental measures. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The study was conducted in 2023 with an aim to identify SRDs and develop a reliable scale for adoption correlates within these domains. The development of the scale follows a systematic Likert scale development methodology involving identification of SRDs of OFT interventions, delineation of different dimensions of each correlate of adoption, dimension analysis and selection, and its standardisation by reliability and validity assessment. The final scale comprises 32 dimensions under seven adoption correlates, selected via exploratory factor analysis (EFA) and item discrimination index calculation. The scale demonstrated strong content, construct, and convergent validity, with an average variance extracted (AVE) value of 0.69 and composite reliability (CR) score of 0.97. It also exhibited high internal consistency, with a Cronbach's alpha of 0.97 and a split-half reliability coefficient of 0.963. The standardized scale is effective for measuring factors related to the adoption of improved technologies and practices, providing a valuable tool for researchers in various fields. The administration of the developed scale and the subsequent correlation analysis revealed significant relationships, with human resource correlates showing the highest correlation (r = 0.895), followed closely by technological (r = 0.872) and economic correlates (r = 0.87), underscoring the critical factors influencing farmers' adoption behaviour. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The farmers' psychological well-being has an impact on the adoption of sustainable farming practices. The key component involves attitude, which transforms covert behaviour into overt action. This study determined the socio-economic variables that influence farmers' attitude towards adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. The present study was carried out during 2021-23 in four districts of Manipur state on 320 respondents. In order to gauge the respondents' attitude, an attitude scale was developed. Linear regression model was applied to investigate the variables that explained attitudes of farmers toward the adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. The findings of the study revealed that majority of respondents exhibited favourable attitude with an attitude index of 70.96. The variables age, family size, education, experience, landholding, extension contacts, social media, market orientation, product orientation, and risk orientation influenced the farmers' attitudes toward adoption of sustainable agricultural practices. Developing a feedback channel for farmers to discuss their experiences and difficulties on adoption of technology and formation of farmer's cooperatives are imperative for bringing improvement in the farmers' attitude. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: Reducing carbon emissions in agriculture is vital for fostering sustainable agricultural growth and promoting ecological well-being in rural areas. The adoption of Low-Carbon Agriculture (LCA) by farmers holds great potential to accomplish substantial reductions in carbon emissions. The purpose of this study is to explore the farmers' preference and willingness to engage in LCA. Design/methodology/approach: This study employs the Choice Experiment (CE) method to examine farmers' preferences and willingness to adopt LCA, using field survey data of 544 rural farmers in the Weihe River Basin between June and July 2023. We further investigate differences in willingness to pay (WTP) and personal characteristics among different farmer categories. Findings: The empirical results reveal that farmers prioritize government-led initiatives providing pertinent technical training as a key aspect of the LCA program. Farmers' decisions to participate in LCA are influenced by factors including age, gender, education and the proportion of farm income in household income, with their evaluations further shaped by subjective attitudes and habits. Notably, we discovered that nearly half of the farmers exhibit indifference towards LCA attributes. Originality/value: To the best of the authors' knowledge, this study is the first to investigate farmers' attitudes toward LCA from their own perspectives and to analyze the factors influencing them from both subjective and objective standpoints. This study presents a fresh perspective for advocating LCA, bolstering rural ecology and nurturing sustainable development in developing nations. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Simple Summary: Ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) significantly affect the health and production of small ruminants, particularly among resource-poor and small-scale farmers in the Balochistan province of Pakistan. This study surveyed 153 farmers across seven districts to assess their knowledge, attitudes, and practices using a KAP survey. The results revealed a significantly low level of awareness among farmers about the impact of climate change and the economic effects of ticks on animal health. The key preventive measures, such as proper acaricide use and wearing protective clothing, were often neglected, increasing the risk of TBDs. The roles of the government, non-government organizations, veterinary doctors, and local communities are essential to implement effective awareness and education programs to address these gaps. Ticks and tick-borne diseases (TBDs) pose potential health threats to small-scale farmers of grazing animals in the upper highlands of Balochistan, Pakistan. This study was conducted based on a questionnaire survey involving 153 farmers of grazing animals in seven districts to access their knowledge, attitudes, and practices regarding ticks and TBDs. Odds ratios and 95% confidence intervals, based on Fisher's test, were used to assess risk factors for determining preventive measures. The findings revealed a low level of knowledge among the participants. For instance, there was a lack of awareness of the effects of climate change and the economic impact of ticks on animal health. The essential precautions, such as the non-indiscriminate use of acaricides, wearing dark-colored clothing, and limiting children's interaction with grazing animals, were often overlooked. However, the farmers had a positive attitude towards tick control, but they mostly relied on the knowledge of local communities. The neglect of such measures places these farmers and their children at risk of contracting TBDs. This study also indicates minimal involvement from the government in educating farmers and controlling ticks. The role of stakeholders, including the government, non-governmental organizations, veterinary doctors, and local farmer communities, is crucial to address these issues and to implement effective training programs that address misconceptions about ticks and TBDs. Overall, this study highlights the importance of implementing awareness and education programs to address the misconceptions about ticks and TBDs among farmers. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The main objective of the study is to evaluate the importance of the non-agricultural business activity of farmers in shaping the income of farmers’ households in Poland in 2002- 2022. Design/methodology/approach: The scale of farmers' non-agricultural business activity, its share in the income structure of farmers' households, and its links to agricultural production were assessed. Qualitative analysis and descriptive statistics were used. Findings: In sectoral representation, non-agricultural business activities play a minor role in shaping farmers' households income, although after 2002 there was a relative increase in interest in this form of business activity among farmers. There is also substitutability between sources of income from agricultural and non-agricultural business activities. Research limitations/implications: The limitation in the availability of full time series data and the differences in the methodologies for collecting data on agricultural businesses raise specific challenges at the stage of data compilation, analysis, and formulation of conclusions. Practical implications: There is a polarisation in farmers' attitudes towards non-agricultural business activities: either they are the main source of the farm family's livelihood, or they are of marginal importance in shaping farmers' household income. Social implications: Additional business activity is an important element in the financial security of those farms where agricultural activities are more often orientated toward self-supply. Originality/value: The additional business activity of farmers is a topic little studied in the literature. Exploring its mechanisms is important for the design of effective policy tools aimed at reducing the instability of farmers' incomes. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Introduction: Drought, a prevalent consequence of climate change, significantly impacts mental health among farmers. Enhancing psychological resilience is crucial to mitigating these effects. This study aims to explore the concept and factors affecting the psychological resilience of farmers living in drought-affected regions in Iran. Method: This study utilized a conventional qualitative content analysis method. Twenty-six participants, divided into two groups of experts and farmers, were selected through purposive sampling. Data collection was conducted via in-depth semi-structured interviews. The study adhered to the Consolidated Criteria for Reporting Qualitative Research (COREQ) checklist and was carried out between June 2023 and February 2024. Results: The factors affecting the psychological resilience of farmers living in drought-affected regions were categorized into two main categories with nine subcategories. The first category, environmental factors, included economic factors, socio-cultural factors, drought adaptation methods, government policies, and infrastructural factors. The second category, intra-individual factors, comprised personal characteristics, health factors, psychological factors, and perception and knowledge. Conclusion: The study revealed that both environmental and intra-individual factors influence the psychological resilience of farmers during droughts. It is recommended to implement intervention strategies, such as providing training and education on drought adaptation methods and managing agricultural and healthcare expenses. Further research is needed to expand this concept to various disasters and occupational groups in future studies. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The purpose of this study is to determine whether trust, communication, and commitment in relationships have an impact on supply chain performance, with relationship quality as the intervening variable. This study is a case study conducted on mushroom farmers and processors in Kuningan Regency. This study uses trust, communication, and relationship commitment as independent variables, and supply chain performance as the dependent variable, and relationship quality as an intervening variable. The method used is quantitative research with a survey approach. Data from the five variables were analyzed using the Structural Equation Model (SEM) with the help of Smart PLS (Partial Least Square) Software version 3.0. This study involved 150 respondents as samples. The results of the data analysis showed that trust, communication, and relationship commitment positively and significantly affect relationship quality, and the quality of the relationship is able to mediate the influence of the three variables on supply chain performance. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In order to support the growth of tomato production and processing in the Kebbi State, an assessment of the tomato value chain was conducted. Approximately 2.3 million metric tons of fresh tomatoes are produced annually in Nigeria, but over half of them are wasted because of inadequate transportation, storage, and processing facilities. Because of this, it is critical to create plans for the tomato value chain's development. A critical analysis of the body of existing research and a schedule of interviews with important participants in the value chain, including producers, intermediary traders, retailers, and input suppliers, were the methods used for this study. Despite the great output of fresh tomatoes, the study also showed that Kebbi State is still not a major exporter of processed or fresh tomato products. It was discovered that this was caused by a lack of high-quality seed supplies, inadequate storage facilities, subpar disease and insect control, and subpar processing facilities. In order to overcome the obstacles, policies should support Small and Medium Enterprises (SMEs) throughout the value chain; input supplies should be improved; farmers should be organized into cooperatives to launch creative funding mechanisms for them; processors should be placed in clusters; marketing strategies should be improved, including guaranteeing prices for fresh tomato products; technologies for processing and storage should be developed; farmers should adopt Good Agricultural Practices (GAP); and a strong National Commodity Association or Network should be established. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and background In Ethiopia, farmers do not have individual property rights to the land they occupy and cultivate since the 1995 Federal Democratic Republic of Ethiopia (FDRE) constitution clearly states that land belongs to the state and the peoples of Ethiopia. To address concerns about the insecure tenure of farmers that could result from the absence of enduring private ownership of land, to eliminate land disputes, to promote sustainable use of land resources, and to support long-term land-related investments, such as soil conservation measures, the Ethiopian government introduced a land registration and certification program in 1998. In addition, cities and towns are also rapidly expanding horizontally, encroaching on fertile agricultural land, which could reverse the land tenure security expected from the land certification program. Goal and Objectives: This study aims to examine the effect of Ethiopia's land certification program on the soil conservation practices of rural and peri-urban farming households in the Tigray region of Ethiopia. Methodology: The study employs descriptive statistics and a binary logistic regression model to empirically assess the effect of the Ethiopian land certification program on investment in soil conservation practices. Results: The study found that 54.59%, said they conserved their plots, while the remaining 45.41% had not engaged in soil conservation practices. Conversely, 60.11% of the certified peri-urban respondents stated they did not conserve their plots. The logit model's marginal effects indicated that the influence of the Ethiopian land certification program on the probability of soil conservation depended on the geographic location of the farmers. Specifically, rural program participants were more likely to engage in soil conservation practices. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Context and background: Agriculture is an important sector of the Nigerian economy. Farmland provides the most important means of agricultural production and is a basic resource and requirement for human survival; and the most important economic resource most particularly for developing countries with largely rural population, where most people earn a living through agriculture. It is the livelihood of many people across the globe, such as agricultural and livestock producers, developers, and investors. This explains the intrinsic value and premium placed on farmland particularly the rural populace whose major occupation is farming. Goals and objectives: The study examined farmland values and productivity of crop arable farmers in Imo State of Nigeria. The study specifically examined the farmland values in the study area and its determinants, the productivity of the arable crop farmers and the determinants of productivity of the farmers. Methodology A multi-stage sampling technique was used in selecting 180 respondents for the study. Primary data, collected using structured questionnaire, were analyzed using descriptive and inferential statistical tools. Results: The results showed that the mean productivities of the male and female farmers were 6.85 and 5.65 respectively. Also, 46.67% of the farmers cultivated between 1.1–2.0 hectares with average productivity of 6.05. The mean age of the respondents was 48 years. The result showed that respondents who attained secondary education were more productive and about 77.78% were married with an average productivity of 7.46. The mean household size was 6 persons per household and the most productive group were those who had a household size of between 7-9 persons with an average productivity of 6.99. On the average, the respondents have spent about 24 years on arable crop farming. Majority (77.22 percent) of the farmers had no contact with extension agents and had lower productivity than their counterpart who had contact with extension agents. Also, only 13.89 percent of the farmers were members of cooperative societies and these farmers had higher productivity. Only 11 percent of the respondents had access to credit and they had higher productivity. The land ownership status showed that majority (77.78 percent) of the respondents are owner occupiers an average productivity of 5.91 and respondents whose major occupation was farming were 71.67% with a productivity of 6.37. The average farmland value was N235, 555. The significant determinants of farmland value were farm size, productivity, returns and duration of tenure which were all positive while and purpose of use was the only negative significant variable. The mean productivity of the farmers was 6.25. The significant determinants of productivity were innovations, education, marital status, farm size, labour and credit which were all positively related to productivity. About 58.33% of the farmers were food insecure. Farmland value had a significant positive effect on productivity. The study recommends that policies that will reduce the value/price of land and grant farmers increased access to land and finance should be implemented to enhance farm investment and hence increase the farmers productivity. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

In many developing countries assignment of agricultural responsibilities is based on social and cultural norms. In Africa and Kenya, women take on most of the roles that involve spending long hours and use of lots of energy. The research objectives were to examine the effect of restricted access and land control in tea farming on gender equity in Singorwet ward of Bomet County. A cross-sectional study design was used and a sample size of 532 tea farmers' respondents (comprising 431 male tea farmers and 101 female tea farmers), two directors, and 10 farm laborers were involved in this study. Purposive sampling was used to pick two director zones in the Singorwet ward and stratified random sampling to pick five tea-buying centers within Singorwet Zone and Mugango Zone. Questionnaires, interviews, and observation schedules were used for data collection. From the findings, all major decisions on tea farming rest with the men, as well as all gender equity indices and access to and control of financial services in tea farming. The overall gender parity ratio stood at 0.2 which was in favor of men. This was also evident in directorship where woman directors appeared under nomination and not election. This study recommends thorough community awareness programs on land rights within the Kenyan Constitution 2010. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

With the prompt development of agricultural modernization, new or improved agricultural socialized services are emerging continuously in the form of service innovations. The effective innovation diffusion of new or improved agricultural socialized services promotes the connection between small farmers and modern agriculture. However, studies rarely focus on the diffusion patterns or mechanism of agricultural socialized service innovation. Even the classic theory of technological innovation diffusion does not answer the research question. This paper adopts the semi-structured interview to investigate the relevant stakeholders of agricultural socialized service innovation, including small farmers, governments, service providers, etc. The grounded theory is adopted to analyze first- and second-hand data. The results indicate four types of diffusion patterns of agricultural socialized service innovation, including government-led top-down diffusion, service providers-farmers bilateral diffusion, intra-farmer diffusion, and government-service providers collaborative diffusion. The diffusion mechanism of agricultural socialized service innovation is analyzed from the perspective of farmers. The results show that the diffusion of agricultural socialized service innovation contains three stages following the "stimulus-organism-response" (SOR) framework i.e., cognition of service, persuasion based on comparison and confirmation of needs. Relevant factors affect the diffusion process. In the cognition stage, service attributes, and personal characteristics and needs affect farmers' initial cognition of agricultural socialized service innovation. In the persuasion stage, compatibility, opinion leaders and community communication affect farmers' opinions of the value of agricultural socialized service innovation. In the confirmation stage, farmers make decisions influenced by perceived risk, trust and value. The research results enrich the theory of innovation diffusion in the context of agricultural socialized service, and inspire the effective promotion and application of agricultural socialized service innovation. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

The implementation of the IPARD (Instrument for Pre-Accession Assistance in Rural Development) initiative in Montenegro has advanced the agricultural sector by providing farmers with machinery and equipment, including tractors, trailers, balers, and irrigation systems. Through four public calls for support, a total of 333 investments were channelled, accompanied by infrastructural development to enhance farming operations and productivity. This paper assesses the impact and effectiveness of the IPARD initiative, particularly its contribution to modernizing the agricultural sector through machinery and equipment provision. The analyses involved a combination of data extraction from online sources, statistical analysis using tools like SWOT analysis and Technological Advancements Assessment, and qualitative insights from interviews with key stakeholders to evaluate the impact of IPARD on agricultural modernization in Montenegro. It evaluates how IPARD support has enhanced farming operations, productivity, and efficiency in Montenegro, identifying challenges and opportunities for improvement. Additionally, it provides insights and recommendations for future initiatives to foster sustainable agricultural modernization in the country. Notably, beneficiaries from Bijelo Polje received the highest support at €4,003,999, while Budva and Tivat did not receive any. Municipalities like Podgorica and Nikšić also received significant support, reflecting their larger populations and areas. The anticipated impact is transformative, empowering farmers to modernize practices and improve efficiency. Despite challenges like eligibility criteria and communication barriers, positive collaboration and efficient information dissemination have been observed. Opportunities for improvement include expanding financing mechanisms and enhancing user engagement. These insights will guide future efforts toward sustainable agricultural modernization in Montenegro. Moving forward, expanding financing mechanisms and enhancing user engagement are crucial steps to further empower farmers and ensure the continued success of agricultural development initiatives in Montenegro. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

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The academic field has limited studies on implementing nature-based solutions (NbSs) in Chinese agriculture, especially regarding households' and farmers' attitudes toward the acceptance of agricultural NbS technologies. Based on this, this study aims to fill this knowledge gap by examining the factors behind farmers' agricultural practices of NbS adoption in Northeast China. Accordingly, this paper constructs an extended theoretical framework of planned behavior (TPB) and empirically tests it using partial least squares structural equation modeling (PLS-SEM) on data from 298 farmers in Inner Mongolia. It was found that incorporating institutional trust (IT) into TPB improves the prediction of Chinese farmers' intention to de-farm behavior. Unlike previous studies, this study identified two indirect pathways influencing farmers' intention to adopt agricultural NbS technologies: from institutional trust through attitude to intention, and from institutional trust through perceived behavioral control to intention. The findings broaden the research perspective in this area, provide empirical evidence for the application of NbSs in agricultural practices in China and other developing countries, and demonstrate in practice that NbS has been promoted as an essential tool to maximize nature's ability to provide ecosystem services and create direct economic benefits for farmers through increased yields and reduced costs. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]

Purpose: The purpose of this study is to determine the farmers' behavioural intention (BI) to adopt Internet of things platforms (IoT-P) in the agriculture context by comparing two well-known theories: the united theory of acceptance and use of technology (UTAUT), and the decomposed theory of planned behaviour (DTPB) with the integration of innovation resistance theory (IRT). Design/methodology/approach: Purposive sampling was used to get responses from 267 potential farmers to examine their IoT-P adoption intention in Pakistan. The PLS-SEM, PLS model evaluation criterion and PLS model selection criterion were considered to determine the significance of path co-efficient, explanatory power, predictive power and more parsimonious model. Findings: The findings demonstrate that DTPB is the best model with the extension of functional barriers (FBs) and psychological barriers (PBs). It has more predictive relevance and explanatory power. The results show that farmers' attitude (ATT), based on the evaluation of three attributes (i.e. perceived usefulness (PU), perceived ease of use (PEOU) and compatibility (COMP)), is the strong predictor of farmers' BI to adopt IoT-P. In addition, self-efficacy (SEF) and facilitating conditions (FC) peer influence (PI) and superiors' influence (SPI) are required for adoption of IoT-P devices. Finally, FB and PB significantly and negatively influence the farmers' BI to adopt IoT-P. Originality/value: This research is the first to consider the two technology adoption models with the integration of IRT for explaining farmers' BI in the context of agriculture. [ABSTRACT FROM AUTHOR]